Can-washing machine



Sept. 2, 1930. o. LARsl-:N

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1928 zdevv v Olaf llamen,

@atented Sept.. 2, 193@ UNITED STATES OLAF LARSEN, OF FORT -ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CREAMERY PACK- AGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CAN-WASHING MACHINE Application led September 29, 1928. Serial. No. 309,230.

The invention relates to apparatus for washing milk cans and more particularly to can discharging or unloading mechanism in such apparatus.

; The washing of milk cans, as accomplished in machines of the type disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,604,455 granted October 26, 1926 on my application, includes the forced spraying of hot fluids intovand upon 10, the cans. With such treatment, the cans reach the unloading station in the washer at high temperature. The manual removal of the washed cans from the machine involves not only labor, but the manual handling of cans which are too hot to be grasped by the attendant without heavy gloves, the

latter often becoming saturated with hot liquid to the obvious discomfort and disadvantage of the attendant.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide mechanism for the automatic discharge of the cans from a washing machine after completion of the washing treatment. Another object is to provide a can support 2,5 in such mechanism which may be removed for access to other parts of the machine to facilitate cleaning. A' further object isto provide automatic discharge or unloading mechanism for a can washing machine by which an inverted can carried on a conveyor is tipped from the conveyor after the washing treatment and received in upright position outwardly of the washing machine.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents in elevation a can washing machine of the type illustrated in the beforementioned 0 Patent No. 1,604,455, in which my present invention has been embodied and which is characterized by having a rotary can conveyor. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the can conveyor having the structure of the present invention mounted thereon, and including a platform for receiving the cans as unloaded from the conveyor. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the can rest removably mounted on the can conveyor.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tank adapted to contain the washing solution, and constructed in annular form. The tank 1 is mounted about and supported upon a central drum 2, which latter is supported upon suitable floor legs 3. The drum 2 carries a cover plate 4 upon which is supported a pivot stud 5. A rotary turn table 6, functioning as a can conveyor, is operatively supported upon the pivot stud 5 and actuated in rotary motion by means of an annular gear 7 secured upon the underside of the conveyor, with which is operatively engaged a drive pinion 8 mounted upon a shaft 9 having suitable driving means (not shown).

Mounted upon the tank 1 is an outer shell or canopy 10 forming a chamber above the conveyor table 6 in which cans carried by the conveyor are subjected to the washing treatment. A top cover 11 is preferably provided upon the upper edge of the canopy 10. One side of the canopy is open, as indicated at 12, to permit the placing of cans upon the conveyor and their removal after vthe washing treatment. The conveyor preferably carries a series of radial partitions 13 mounted vertically upon the conveyor table 6 and centrally joined by the cross par-titions 14, to form individual compartments for the separate reception of milk cans to be washed.

The tank 1 is provided with apparatus for` spraying the solution therein into the cans carried upon the conveyor, the 'solution falling back into the tank after spending its force upon the cans. The structure and operation of the spraying apparatus is fully disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,604,455 and asit forms no part of the present invention, it is not shown nor described herein. The conveyor table 6 is provided with an annular slotl 15 through which the spraying apparatus operates to discharge liquid into and upon thecans resting upon the upper side of the conveyor.

As each compartment is presented to the lateral opening in the canopy, an attendant places a can to be washed therein in inverted 'conveyor table.

position. The can vis endwardly supported by a removable rest 16 mounted on the conveyor and adapted to receive the mouth of' as clearly illustrated by the position of thecan 17 in Fig. 1. The rest 16 is removably mounted on the conveyor in order that the rest may be removed after the washing operation to. afford clear access through the slot 15 to the interior of the tank 1 for cleaning the apparatus therein.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the rest is preferably provided with a pair of spaced hooks 20 adapted to enter within openings 21 provided in the conveyor plate, and in normal position to be locked beneath a rib 22 formed on the underside of the conveyor. The rest may be removed by simply swinging it upwardly to release the hooks for withdrawal from their openings, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The rest 16 is constructed to support the can placed thereupon in lateral inclined position, the upper portion of the can being laterally supported upon a cradle 23 having a can engaging portion of concave contour adapted to receive the side of the can and normally support it in the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 1. The cradle 23 is pivotally supported preferably upon a vertical axis between the spaced arms of a bracket 24 carrying a pivot pin 25 fixed in the cradle 23. The bracket is rigidly mounted, preferably upon the adjacent partition 13 carried upon the conveyor table. The lower end of the pivot pin 25- is provided with a lever or cam arm 26 fixed thereupon and extending laterally beyond the path of the conveyor table.

Positioned outwardly of the path of the conveyor and stationarily mounted upon the canopy or tank wall is a stud or lug 27 which is adapted .to be engaged in the rotation of the conveyor table by the cam arm 26. Such engagement causes a swinging outwardly of the cradle 23, and the radial outward movement of the upper portion of the can 17 which is supported laterally by the cradle. The swinging movement of the cradle thus tips the upper portion of the can outwardly,

while its inverted mouth vend is held between the lugs 19 upon the can rest. The movement is sufficient to carry the center of gravity of the can outwardly of its endward support and cause the can to fall from the conveyor, whereupon, the cam lever 26 having passed the stud 27, the cradle is returned to normal position as by a spring 28 endwardly attached to the cradle and its supporting bracket.

Adjacent the tank wall, at the position of l k'mounted about the outer edges of the platform 29. For convenience, a roller conveyor 33 may be provided adjacent the platform upon which the discharged can may be pushed from the platform by the attendant.

A holder is also provided on the opposite partition of each compartment for the support of the can cover to be washed, as illustrated in Fig. 1coinprising a wire cage -or basket 34, within which a cover 35 is placed for subjection to the spraying fluids at the same time the can is washed, the cover being removed at the end of the washing operation and replaced upon the discharged can.

It will be obvious that in the operation of the conveyor table and the mechanism hereinbefore described, it is necessary only for the attendant to place the cold cans upon the can f rest and cradle without further handling. After subjection to the high temperature washing fluids, the hot can is automatically discharged from the conveyor, without manual handling, in upright position conveniently placed for further disposition.

claim as my invention:

' 1. In a can washing machine having a can conveyor, the combination of means on said conveyor for endwardly supporting an inverted can in inclined position, means on said conveyor for laterally supporting said can and having a movable member adapted for engagement therewith, and means positioned adjacent the path of said conveyor adapted to engage said member whereby said member is actuated to displace said can from its lateral support and cause it to fall from said conveyor.

2. In a can washing machine having a can conveyor, the combination of a can rest on said Conveyor adapted to support the lower end of an inverted can in inclined position and arranged to prevent lateral d'splacem'ent of said lower end, means on said conveyor for laterally supporting said can having a movable member adapted for engagement with said can, and means positioned adjacent the path of said conveyor adapted to engage said member and actuate said member to displace the upper portionof said can from its laterall support and cause said can to fall from said conve or.

3. n a can washing machine having a can conveyor, the combination of a can rest on said conveyor adapted to support the lower end of an inverted can in inclined position and arranged to prevent lateral displacement of said lower end, a member having pivotal support on said conveyor and adapted normally to laterally support said can, and means llO adjacent the path 'of 'said conveyoradapted Q to engage said member whereby said mem- 'stationary element positioned adjacent the path of said conveyor adapted to engage said arm and cause the lateral swinging-of said member whereby the upper portion of said can vis moved laterally of its endward support' and said can is caused to fall from said conveyor.

5. In a can washing machine having a can conveyor, a rest on said conveyor adapted to ort the lower end of a can and arranged to prevent lateral displacement of said lower end, a member having pivotal support on stationary elem said conveyor adapted normally to laterally engage the upper portion of said` canfsaid memberv having cam arm extending outwardly of the ath of said conveyor, a t positioned adjacent the path of said conv'eyoradapted to engage said arm andiause'the lateral swinging of said,

member whereby the Yupper portion of said can is ni'ioved laterally of its endward support andsaid can is caused to fall from said conveyor, and means for receiving said falling can in upright position.

supported on said bracket forswinging movement on a vertical axis, said cradle being adapted normally to laterally support the upper portion of said can, a cam arm in fixed relation to said cradle and extending outwardly of the path fof said conveyor, a stationary stud positioned outwardly of the path of said conveyor and adapted for engagement by said cam arm to cause said cradle to swing outwardly and displace the upper portion of said can from normal position whereby said can is caused to fall from said conveyor, and a platform positioned to receive vthe falling can in upright position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto attached by signature.

' OLAF LARSEN.

- 6. In a can washing nachine having a can i conveyor, said -conveyor having an opening for the discharge therethrough of' washing fluid upon the can on said conveyor,the combination of -a can rest mounted on said conveyor and adapted-to support the lower end of an inverted can against lateral displacement of said lower end, said can rest being removably mounted over said conveyor opening and having an opening therein for the discharge of washing iuid therethrough,

means on said conveyor for laterally supporting said can and having a movable member adapted for engagement with said can, and means positioned adjacent the ath of said conveyor adapted to engage sai member whereby said member is swung laterally to displace the upper portion of said can and cause said can to fall from said conveyor.

7. In a can washing machine having a can conveyor, the combination of a can rest on said conveyor adapted to support the lower end of an inverted can in inclined position andarranged to prevent-lateral displacement of said lower end, a bracket rigidly supported on said conveyor, aV cradle operatively 

